Hearing date set in case of illegal sexual contact

Published: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 10:45 AM.

A Jacksonville man has a preliminary hearing set for Aug. 1 after being accused of having sexual contact with a child.

John Jermaine Henry, 25, of Annie Avenue in Jacksonville, was charged Thursday, July 11, by the Jacksonville Police Department with indecent liberties with a child and sexual battery.

Henry is accused of engaging in sexual contact with a child under the age of 16 at the time of the incident, which reportedly occurred March 15.

“A police investigation began in March after law enforcement received a report of suspected abuse from (Department of Social Services),” Jacksonville Public Safety Department Spokesman Beth Purcell said.

According to warrants, he did this “for the purpose of sexual arousal and sexual gratification” and engaged in the act with the child “who was physically helpless,” something that Henry “should have reasonably known.”

JPD officials said he was arrested at 9:15 p.m. Thursday at his home and taken into custody without incident.

Henry was issued a $15,000 secured bond, and he was bonded out of custody on Friday. He made his first appearance in district court that same day where he was appointed attorney Janine Dunn, and his preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 1.

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A Jacksonville man has a preliminary hearing set for Aug. 1 after being accused of having sexual contact with a child.

John Jermaine Henry, 25, of Annie Avenue in Jacksonville, was charged Thursday, July 11, by the Jacksonville Police Department with indecent liberties with a child and sexual battery.

Henry is accused of engaging in sexual contact with a child under the age of 16 at the time of the incident, which reportedly occurred March 15.

“A police investigation began in March after law enforcement received a report of suspected abuse from (Department of Social Services),” Jacksonville Public Safety Department Spokesman Beth Purcell said.

According to warrants, he did this “for the purpose of sexual arousal and sexual gratification” and engaged in the act with the child “who was physically helpless,” something that Henry “should have reasonably known.”

JPD officials said he was arrested at 9:15 p.m. Thursday at his home and taken into custody without incident.

Henry was issued a $15,000 secured bond, and he was bonded out of custody on Friday. He made his first appearance in district court that same day where he was appointed attorney Janine Dunn, and his preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 1.